Ok, Newell Turner. I think you and I are going to get along just fine.
I was still reeling from the news that my imaginary work paramour Stephen Drucker
had left House Beautiful for Town & Country, a magazine about which I care not one iota. Perhaps Stephen will change that. Regardless of what happens with that publication, I believe my fears about the new leadership at House Beautiful may be laid to rest.
Mini-quiz: what is the one thing we’ve all been taught about small spaces? Paint them a light color, yes?
NO! I almost fell off my Metro seat when I saw this “Lilliputian” (as the writer describes it) apartment in New York City in the latest issue.
NOT a light color! Not neutral! There’s STUFF around! People actually LIVE here!
Three people, actually, if you can believe it. A husband (who happens to be an interior designer, naturally), wife, and a small child.
I believe the overall square footage is 390 square feet.
Barbara King’s interview with the apartment’s owner-slash-designer, David Kaihoi, is terrific, so I urge you to read it. But for some quick inspiration – and a feeling of gratitude for whatever “extra” space you have in your home – here are some pictures.
Part of the reason Mr. Kaihoi used these strong colors is to acknowledge the fact that the family DOES have stuff. In a light, neutral space, he says, even a shirt tossed on the banquette makes the space look busy.
The strong colors beat clutter into submission.
Please note the 18th-century Chinese wallpaper, which Mr. Kaihoi bought at auction and lovingly pieced together and patched.
Please also note the non-tacky use of mirrors as backsplash in the tiny kitchen.
Rich jewel tones, lots of high-gloss finishes, strategic storage capabilities, and a disciplined approach to clutter. The recipe for sanity AND high style in a miniscule space.
Annie Elliott – aka bossy color – is an interior decorator and design blogger in Washington, D.C. She has been quoted in publications from The Washington Post to The Seattle Times and is considered an expert on color, residential space planning, and telling people what to do in the nicest way possible.